Give Me Your Answer, Do! 1999 - Articles Page 21

Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy have a date with destiny-and South Coast Repertory-in the season-opening production of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, closing Oct. 9 on the Segerstrom Stage.

Idina Menzel is about to wrap up an 18-month concert tour - that is, when she's not busy filming episodes of Fox's hit show Glee, bringing the arts to young people, and being a wife to fellow performer Taye Diggs and mom to their 2-year-old son Walker. Somehow she found time to talk to me about her multifaceted career and give a little insight into what's in store for her for the rest of 2011.

Today we are talking to the leading lady of the new PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 25th Anniversary At The Albert Hall - airing live in Fathom movie theaters around the world this Sunday - Christine Daae herself - Sierra Boggess! In this extensive discussion about all things PHANTOM we dissect the starring role in the biggest musical theatre sensation of all time and she illustrates her journey with the character of Christine from originating it in director Hal Prince's PHANTOM VEGAS in 2006 to inspiring the role (ten years later) in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical sequel to PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, LOVE NEVER DIES, in the West End - a musical which, incidentally, is also being filmed this week (though not simulcast in movie theaters); Simon Lee's Australian production - all the way up until now - and her two starring roles on Broadway in between as, respectively, a mermaid and a student of Maria Callas - as she prepares for preserving the role in the filmed stage super-production for the ages. Additionally, Sierra and I touch on her work in THE LITTLE MERMAID and MASTER CLASS on Broadway as well as her first audition for Hal Prince, plus recollections of "instant chemistry" with LOVE NEVER DIES and PHANTOM 25 co-star and the Phantom himself, Ramin Karimloo, as well as hinting at some special surprises Sunday may very well hold in store - Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman included - and much, much more!

Labyrinth Theater Company has announced final casting for the World Premiere Production of The Atmosphere of Memory by David Bar Katz. Performances begin Saturday, October 15th with Opening Night scheduled for October 30th at Labyrinth's new home, the Bank Street Theater for a limited engagement through Sunday, November 13th.

Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy have a date with destiny-and South Coast Repertory-in the season-opening production of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, running Sept. 9 through Oct. 9 on the Segerstrom Stage.

For the first time under the 21-year leadership of Bonnie J. Monte, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will present William Shakespeare's rarely produced work, Timon of Athens.

Singer/actress Nikki Blonsky truly embodies that notion of overnight success. Plucked from obscurity at age 17, then-newcomer Blonsky beat out hundreds of young girls from a nationwide open casting call to land the coveted lead role in the big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical HAIRSPRAY. On July 15-16, she will be slipping back into familiar territory as she joins MEN ALIVE: The Orange County Gay Men's Chorus for their 10th Anniversary Concert 'GREASY HAIRSPRAY' at the Irvine Barclay Theatre.

For the first time under the 21-year leadership of Bonnie J. Monte, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will present William Shakespeare's rarely produced work, Timon of Athens.

You wouldn't know it from his youthful looks, but actor Ethan Le Phong has been a longtime global chameleon for quite some time. His past roles have taken him from Germany to New York, from London to Los Angeles. And for almost a year now, he has been spicing things up as Pepper in the 2nd National Tour of the global hit musical MAMMA MIA. Before the show makes its anticipated return to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County for a week-long engagement from June 21 - 26, the actor paused for a brief chat with BroadwayWorld's Michael Lawrence Quintos to talk about his role in the hit ABBA-rific musical, his influences as a kid, and his wish to see more Asian-Americans on the Broadway stage.

For the first time under the 21-year leadership of Bonnie J. Monte, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will present William Shakespeare's rarely produced work, Timon of Athens.

In May 2011, Squabbalogic is reprising its much-loved production of [title of show]. The hit musical about two guys writing a musical about two guys writing a musical is returning to Sydney for SIX SHOWS ONLY. The cast of [Title of Show] have taken the time to answer some questions for BroadwayWorld as they prepare for their grand return to Sydney!

National Corporate Theatre Fund (NCTF) will hold its Annual Chairman's Awards Gala and benefit on Monday, May 2 at the St. Regis New York hotel (2 East 55th Street at Fifth Avenue). This year, NCTF Chairman James S Turley, Chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young, will honor Oscar and Tony Award-winner Joel Grey (on Broadway this season in Anything Goes and director of Broadway's The Normal Heart), Charles Dillingham (Managing Director, Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles) and BNY Mellon. Accepting the award on behalf of Corporate Honoree will be Gerald Hassell, President. All net proceeds of the event will be distributed as the NCTF/BNY MELLON FUND FOR NEW AMERICAN THEATRE.

National Corporate Theatre Fund (NCTF) will hold its Annual Chairman's Awards Gala and benefit on Monday, May 2 at the St. Regis New York hotel (2 East 55th Street at Fifth Avenue). This year, NCTF Chairman James S Turley, Chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young, will honor Oscar and Tony Award-winner Joel Grey (on Broadway this season inAnything Goes and director of The Normal Heart), recipient of the Theater Artist Award, presented by Anything Goes director/choreographer Kathleen Marshall; Charles Dillingham (Managing Director, Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles), recipient of the Theater Professional Award, presented by Benjamin Moore (Managing Director of Seattle Repertory Theatre) and Richard Thomas (Race on Broadway and The Public's Timon of Athens); and BNY Mellon, recipient of the Corporate Leadership Award, presented by Tony Award-winning stage and film actress Anika Noni Rose. All net proceeds of the event will be distributed as the NCTF/BNY MELLON FUND FOR NEW AMERICAN THEATRE.

In May 2011, Squabbalogic is reprising its much-loved production of [title of show]. The hit musical about two guys writing a musical about two guys writing a musical is returning to Sydney for SIX SHOWS ONLY. The cast of [Title of Show] have taken the time to answer some questions for BroadwayWorld as they prepare for their grand return to Sydney! First up, we have the men of the cast.

Legends aren't born, or merely made - they are created; and, so very, very carefully crafted. In equal parts due to her incomparable stage work creating roles in musicals by Stephen Sondheim and Jerry Herman, to her film work encompassing John Frankenheimer and Vincente Minnelli, to name but two, as well as a smash-hit television series - MURDER SHE WROTE - and hosting duties at various Tony Awards and Academy Awards broadcasts over the last half century, have certainly cemented her place in our hearts, minds and entertainment history itself - I am speaking, of course, of the simply exquisite Ms. Angela Lansbury. In this enlightening discussion conducted yesterday we dissect many of her most treasured roles and performances, and Ms. Lansbury provides many warm and wonderful recollections of her astonishingly varied and accomplished tenure onstage and onscreen over the course of her sixty-year-plus career. ANYONE CAN WHISTLE to SWEENEY TODD; MAME to GYPSY; BEDKNOBS AND BROOM STICKS to SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE to the forthcoming MR. POPPER‘S PENGUINS co-starring Jim Carrey - plus, acting with Bette Davis in DEATH ON THE NILE - and much, much more in this special interview! This is all coming in anticipation of Ms. Lansbury's tribute to Bob Hope at the NY Pops gala on May 2, which will also feature performances by Kelli O'Hara and more - whom we continue our SPOTLIGHT ON NY POPS series with later next week. Don't miss them! Further information about the NY POPS event - including tickets - is available here.

Today we are talking to the composer of the new Broadway musical WONDERLAND, who is the only American composer to have had three of his shows running concurrently on Broadway - JEKYLL & HYDE, THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL and THE CIVIL WAR - and has since solidified himself as one of the most successful international musical theatre composers of the 21st century, with his globe-spanning productions of everything from THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO in Switzerland to CYRANO in Tokyo to TEARS OF HEAVEN in Korea to the forthcoming Broadway production of BONNIE & CLYDE - the warm and gracious Frank Wildhorn. Over the span of our considerable discussion last week we touched on everything from his pop music roots writing hits for Whitney Houston and Kenny Rogers, to his tenure at Atlantic Records and his series of recordings, shows and concerts with muse Linda Eder, as well as a thorough discussion of his compositional process, what inspires him in a story, his own favorite musicals, what the future holds - EXCALIBUR with Jim Steinman, perhaps? The world premiere of the long-awaited HAVANA? JEKYLL & HYDE: THE MOVIE MUSICAL? - and much, much more!

Conquering the Broadway stage in ASSASSINS, CABARET and PROOF; commanding the attention of Radio City (and the world) at the 2009 Tony Awards; racking up rave reviews for SWEENEY TODD at the NY Philharmonic and RENT on tour, plus directing the latter last year at the Hollywood Bowl - these are just a few of the reasons why Neil Patrick Harris made COMPANY: LIVE IN CONCERT, with the NY Philharmonic, one of the biggest nights on Broadway this - or any - year. With recent news confirming that the star-studded Lonny Prince-directed concert production of the timeless 1970 Stephen Sondheim/George Furth concept musical comedy would be filmed for release in movie theaters nationwide for airings in June, it has now become the theatrical event of the season world-wide when it opens in cinemas in June. Last night, Neil was kind enough to take some time out to talk about what the work of Stephen Sondheim means to him, his take on the tricky central role of Bobby, as well as working with his celebrated co-stars Patti LuPone, Stephen Colbert, Christina Hendricks, and more, on this exceptionally exciting entertainment event! Plus, we take a look back at some of his past roles - plus, will he be returning in his Emmy-winning role of Bryan Ryan on GLEE? - and a look ahead to the season finale of his smash hit CBS comedy HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, and the third film in the HAROLD & KUMAR series, A VERY HAROLD & KUMAR CHRISTMAS, coming later this year - in addition to news on his self-directed pilot just completed - as well as a whole lot more! We also have first news on what roles Neil wants to tackle next - MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. perhaps? What about BARNUM? A solo album? Yet, one vital question remains above all else...

National Corporate Theatre Fund (NCTF) will hold its Annual Chairman's Awards Gala and benefit on Monday, May 2 at the St. Regis New York hotel (2 East 55th Street at Fifth Avenue). This year, NCTF Chairman James S Turley, Chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young, will honor Oscar and Tony Award-winner Joel Grey (on Broadway this season in Anything Goes and director of Broadway's The Normal Heart), Charles Dillingham (Managing Director, Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles) and BNY Mellon. Accepting the award on behalf of Corporate Honoree will be Gerald Hassell, President. All net proceeds of the event will be distributed as the NCTF/BNY MELLON FUND FOR NEW AMERICAN THEATRE.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Interim Executive Director Joey Parnes) announced casting today for the 2011 Shakespeare in the Park summer season featuring MEASURE FOR MEASURE, directed by David Esbjornson, and ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, directed by Daniel Sullivan, running in repertory June 6 - July 30 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Bank of America returns as lead sponsor of Shakespeare in the Park 2011, supporting The Public's mission to keep Shakespeare in the Park free.

Earlier today I had the extreme privilege of speaking to the most powerful man in the recording industry and one of the most accomplished and successful producers of the modern era, Simon Cowell, about his new reality competition show beginning in the US this September, THE X FACTOR, as well as his thoughts on Broadway in general, Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Harry Connick, Jr. and much more. Though our time was expectedly limited given his impossibly busy schedule, Simon was kind enough to open up and talk about what aspects of musical theatre work in pop music and which do not and that good performances know no bounds, as well as elaborate on his past 'too Broadway' and 'too cabaret' AMERICAN IDOL criticisms and also share what his favorite movie musical is, among many other illustrative and interesting comments. Plus, will Mariah Carey be co-judging X FACTOR after all?

Earlier today I spoke to one of America's most beloved comedians - screen, stand-up or otherwise - the Emmy-winning Wanda Sykes about her upcoming appearance headlining Monday's GayFest Spring At Last! Gala to benefit The Harvey Milk School and she shared with me her message of hope to the next generation, what she wishes for in the equal rights movement in the near future, as well as personal stories of herself being bullied and how she remained resilient in the face of adversity. Additionally, she clues us in on what her character arc will involve this season on HBO's CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM - hint: it involves Cheyenne Jackson - when it makes its highly-awaited return in the Summer; plus, we take a look back at her TV specials, various series and film roles and she offers up a glimpse of what we can expect from her in 2011 and beyond. All of this is, of course, in addition to a thorough discussion of her recent essaying of the role of Miss Hannigan in ANNIE in Philadelphia and if she would consider taking on the role in the upcoming James Lapine-directed revival aimed at Broadway. Plus, news about the forthcoming big-screen MUPPET MOVIE - and much more!

Actor Richard Easton will make his New York Philharmonic debut reciting the prologue to Bluebeard's Castle, also known as The Bard's Poem, at the start of the New York Philharmonic's performances of Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle, March 18-19, 2011, at 8:00 p.m., and Tuesday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. He replaces Marthe Keller, who has withdrawn due to illness.

Actor Richard Easton will make his New York Philharmonic debut reciting the prologue to Bluebeard's Castle, also known as The Bard's Poem, at the start of the New York Philharmonic's performances of Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle, March 18-19, 2011, at 8:00 p.m., and Tuesday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. He replaces Marthe Keller, who has withdrawn due to illness.

Today we are talking to one of the biggest and youngest sensations of the season, Al Pacino's highly-lauded Portia to his Shylock in the sold-out MERCHANT OF VENICE, as well as a recurring star on THE GOOD WIFE and MEDIUM - following an unforgettable appearance on NIP/TUCK last year - this year's recipient of USA's CHARACTER APPROVED Award for Theatre, Lily Rabe. In this enlivened discussion, Rabe and I dissect her work on stages and screens large and small as well as what the future holds for her on Broadway, in Hollywood and beyond - including starring in a new independent film, LETTERS TO THE BIG MAN, and a revival of A DOLL'S HOUSE co-starring Hamish Linklater at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.

Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced the complete cast and creative team for Ian Bruce's Groundswell, a psychological drama set in South Africa. Directed by Kyle Donnelly, Groundswell will run in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre March 12 - April 17. Preview performances run March 12 - March 16. Opening night is March 17 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.